Tattoo taboo

Leathernecks rush to beat a new Marine rule on body ink

Kaneohe Marine Cpl. Chris Sullivan has a scar on his neck from a tattoo he had removed so he could join the Marine Corps.

This week, he went back under the needle to add seven tattoos to his arms before a more restrictive Marine Corps tattoo policy takes effect Sunday. He is not alone.

Marines throughout the Marine Corps are rushing to get new tattoos before the deadline.

Sgt. Nicholas Passmore had been thinking about adding a tattoo of a koi to his upper right arm for some time when he learned of the policy change.

"It helped me decide to move it up and get it done," he said.

The current policy prohibits tattoos on the head and neck, and tattoos "that are prejudicial to good order, discipline and morale or are of a nature to bring discredit upon the Marine Corps."

The new policy, signed by Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway on March 19, adds large tattoos that extend past the sleeves and legs of standard-issue exercise T-shirts and shorts to the prohibition.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Marine Cpl. Chris Sullivan sat for a portrait yesterday at 808 Tattoo in Kaneohe with his wife, Stephanie, and 7-month-old, son Bailey. He was at the shop getting work done before new military tattoo restrictions take effect Sunday.

The focus of the policy is so-called sleeve tattoos on the arms. Marines who already have them will not have to remove them. However, they cannot add to their designs.

Commanders are required to place photographs, measurements and descriptions of the location in the service records of Marines who already have sleeve tattoos.

The new policy also gives examples of prohibited tattoos including those that are sexist, racist, vulgar, anti-American, antisocial or related to gangs or extremist groups.

Conway changed the policy because he said tattoos that are excessive do not represent the Marine Corps' traditional values.

For many, tattoos are part of being a Marine. Their tattoos often include the Marine Corps initials, logo or motto, Semper Fi, short for "semper fidelis," Latin for "always faithful."

"I'm still boggled that 18-year-olds can go overseas to die but can't get their arms tattooed," Sullivan said.

When the policy change was announced, Sullivan said he had half-sleeve tattoos on both arms with plans to make them full sleeve over time.

Billy Whitney, a tattoo artist at 808 Tattoo in Kaneohe, said business has picked up since the policy change was announced. And he said he has had to reschedule appointments to accommodate customers who are going to be affected by the change.

"Yeah, I've had to move people around. I'm just trying to get as many of them as I can, just trying to help them out," Whitney said.

Especially those customers who have had some work already done and were scheduled to have their tattoos completed after Sunday. "I don't want to see them walking around with half a tattoo," he said.

Brian Ruebenstahl, who owns Skin FX Tattoo Studio in Kaneohe with his brother Dusty, said he also has customers trying to get tattoos before Sunday.

"They had mentioned they gotta hurry up and get the (tattoo) done," Ruebenstahl said.